Sex assessment using odontometry and cranial anthropometry: evaluation in an Indian sample
Raveena Thapar1, Punnya V Angadi, Seema Hallikerimath
1Department of Oral Pathology, KLE VK Institute of Dental Sciences and Hospital, Belgaum, 590010, Karnataka, India.
Forensic Science, Medicine, and Pathology
|May 17, 2011
Summary
Cranial and tooth measurements can estimate sex in Indian adults. Combining head length with tooth dimensions significantly improves accuracy for forensic identification.
Area of Science:
- Forensic Anthropology
- Odontology
- Craniometry
Background:
- Cranial and dental metrics are valuable for sex assessment and postmortem profiling.
- Limited research exists on the correlation between tooth and cranial dimensions for sex estimation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate sexual dimorphism in teeth and cranial size within an adult Indian population.
- To assess the potential of these measurements, individually and combined, for sex estimation using logistic regression.
Main Methods:
- Sample: 200 Indian adults (96 males, 104 females; 18-30 years).
- Measurements: Cranial (head length, head breadth), Cephalic index, Tooth dimensions (mesiodistal, buccolingual) of permanent teeth (excluding third molars) on the right side.
- Analysis: Logistic regression to determine sex prediction accuracy.
Main Results:
- Cranial measurements yielded 53.5–79.9% accuracy; head length was most accurate (79.9%).
- Odontometric measurements provided 61.5–76% accuracy; combined maxillary and mandibular teeth improved results.
- Combining cranial and dental parameters achieved a high accuracy of 88.4%.
Conclusions:
- Cranial anthropometry and odontometry are effective for sex determination in adult Indians for forensic purposes.
- Head length demonstrated superior individual predictive power and was crucial in the combined analysis.
- The combined approach significantly enhances sex estimation accuracy in forensic investigations.
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